When red blood cells are placed in a beaker with water and a little salt, they experience a hypotonic environment. The lower concentration of solutes outside the cells causes water to flow into the cells through osmosis, leading to swelling. If the osmotic pressure exceeds the cell's membrane capacity, the cells may burst, a process known as hemolysis. However, with only a little salt, some cells may remain intact while others could still undergo mild swelling.
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